The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1908-07-25 — Page 10

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OPIUM STATISTICS.

Mr. A. M. A. Evans in the North Chind Daily News traverses the analysis of Mr. Clementi, recently published. Dealing with that portion of the report relating to opium smoking in Hongkong Mr. Evans writes:-

"It will be noted that as regards the popu. lation of the Colony, which includes the New Territories at Kowloon on the mainland, the figures for the New Territories are not avail- able," although they have been under British control for a number of years! He goes on to calculate the percentages in Hongkong and arrives at the conclusion that the ratio is 12.942 per cent. of the entire adult population.

It will be noted at once that while he goes to a considerable amount of trouble in an endeavour to prove that the ratio in China Proper is st most only two per cent of the entire population, his Agares for Hongkong (where, as he says "we no longer deal with estimates but with accurate figures) indicate that the percentage is as high as 12.942 per cent, while the Opium Farmer, he tells us, puts it at ten per cent. Is it credible that the percentage of smokers in Hongkong is in fact much greater than in China Proper!

Is it likely that the incentive to smoke opium is much greater in Hongkong than in Chine,

where the drug is much cheaper?

Mr. Clementi pats the average dose at 2 mace. If, as is probable, the average daily dose is 1 mace then the ratio of smokers in Hongkong is about 25 per cent.

If the percentage of smokers is in fact so much greater in Hongkong than in China then it would seem to stand to reason-if we are really, as Sir E. Grey and other statesmen have indicated, desirous to balp China-that no time should be lost in suppressing the traffic in that portion of His Majesty's Dominions. Under the heading "Application of Figures to Divans' Mr. Clementi premises that "all smokers of drose opium are slaves of the habit; '

""the large majority of persons who smoke prepared opium in divans are also slaves of the babit," also "after the abolition of divans the Opium Farmer will continue, as heretofore, to possess the right of selling prepared opium ani dross opiam to the general public,

Here, then, we find Mr. (lementi going 80 far as actually to premise that many people addicted to the opium habit are enslaved by it. He is right-all smokers gradually become enslaved by the habit.

The Chinese census-upon which Mr. Cle. menti bases his figures is wholly unreliable. In taking the census in China, District Officials are supposed to count the number of houses and report the total-which may or may not be correct to their chiefs, the Governors or Viceroys of Provinces. As far as I am aware the population of the Empire is calculated by estimating five human beings to each house. This is of course a very loose way of doing it,

THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND

extinguished and we would have lost a golden opportunity to set up to our precepts and insure to ourselves and to our successors a measure pros- of power and prestige and commercial perity in the Far Orient such as no other nation will ever have an opportunity to acquire. The Government of the day has acted wisely, and I believe it to be a matter of paramount import- ance that it should be demonstrated here in

Shanghai and in Hongkong and the Straits, in no uncertain manner, that Great Britain is determined to do all that lies in her power to assist China to effice as rapidly as possible from these regions the last vestige of a habit which makes for the degradation of all who are addicted to it. We should olose 11 the divans, we should establish Opium Refuges, give habitual smokers & faw months grace in which 10 give up smoking, and en. Societies in their cities, the suburbs, and all the the Chinese to establish Anti-Opium villages under their control by setting the example in those under oar control.

courage

sccurate returns of the production and more. Owing to the impossibility of obt ining ments of native opium, also owing to the unreliability of the so-called Census of China and the lack of records of the amount used

daily by moderate and excessive smokers. I venture to assert that any one attempting tɔ calculate the percentage of smoke:s in China must inevitably waste a great deal of valuable time in a vain attempt to accomplish the im- possible. If Mr. Clementi's figures were correct, even then the opium habit affecting eight millions of our fellow orestures and their progeny is sufficient to call for the most ener getio action to suppress the use of opium."

OPHTHALMIC DISEASE AMONG

CHINESE.

Great progress, Dr. G. M. Harston reports, was made in 1907 in the treatment of ophthalmic diseases at the new ophthalmic department of the Tung Wah Hospital, and the appreciation of the department amongst the Chinese community is universal, and not confined to the limits of the Colony, as many patients have journeyed specially down to Hongkong for treatment and some have even come from remote villages up the West River.

Dr. Harston mentions that his last year's report led to steps being taken to combat the prevalence of infections eye disease in the schools. Dr. Jordan was delegated to examine all Government schools while he (Dr. Harston) was requested to examine private schools. The percentage results of trachoma prevalence, he says, were relatively enormous.' In one school he examined it was almost 50 per cent. This bas now been reduced almost to a minimum. Dr. Harston remarks:-"No more striking proof of the effect of an enlightened Government upon the welfare of the community could be

"

[July 25, 1908.

REFLECTIONS AT MACAO.

A GRIFTIN."] [BY «

A place of lost opportunities, a place of un- developed potentialities, a plaes with a thrilling Sach is Macao. past and a pathetic present. Rich in historic associations, it is full of interest to the visitor who goes there other than on gambling beat, and if he use his syəs to advantage he will see much to instract and also much to sadden him in this Portuguese possession.

For of all sad words of tongue or pen

manner

сад

The saddest are these " It might have been." Macao might have been the first city of the Far East. But it isn't. I do not mean to speculate as to the probable influence of successors of the early navigators and Macao had the

traders acted in a worthy of their predecessors, but one Boaroely refrain from musing on the past 88 one sees the evidence of the solid work of the fouuders of the first Europesa settlement in Chins. These daring adventurers not only braved the perils of the deep by sailing into seas that were little known, but they faced risks quite as great in forcing their presence on a people who disliked innovation and who could not view them with anything bat distrust.

scene on

What a striking scene that must have "been when the first sturdy little vassel, not as big as some of our British coasting schooners, dropped anchor at this outpost of Far Cathay. One osn imagine the excitement on board, the festing of relief which must have succeeded the monotony of the weary months on that long voyage from Portugal round the Cape of Good Hope, and the joy at the prospect of setting foot on

the land again. Think too, of shore, the people gazing seawards in wide- eyed astonishment at the peculiar vessel and with wonderment at the strange-looking men who approached in the open bost, and the officials, just as bewildered, but displaying a calmness they did not feel. Think too, of the difficulties which had to be overcome at that first interview-the suspicions that had to be removed and the confidence that had to be established. The picture is indeed a striking one, worthy of the attention and skill of any

artist.

We know these difcalties were overcome, and the early navigators were followed by the traders and the missionaries. The rivals of the Portuguese in the East, the Dutch, soon made their appearance, but the Hollanders did not displace them as they did in Ceylon and in the East Indies. The East India Company followed and Macao rapidly developed as a trading centre, the more so as Canton did not offer proper faci lities for foreigaers to do business. In the 18th century it was a flourishing plaos with vast possibilities. Bat its opportunities were neg- lected, and Macao is now only a city of reminis- cences. The few well made roads, narrow, but

and it is, therefore, particularly noteworthy instanced and I have reason to know that soting rough and sore on the feet, point to the serious-

that Mr. Clementi has referred to the census of China in a manner calculated to lead the general public to suppose that it is taken in much the same way as estimates of population are computed in Western States. He offers no explanation, no enlightenment on the subject, Although Mr. Clementi attacks Mr. Theodore Taylor, M.P., for saying "the blackest spots

rule' are under British

yet his figures go far to prove that Mr. Taylor spoke the truth. there being (as he alleges) only 1 per cent of smokers in China but 12 per cent in Hongkong, The folly, or rather the madness, of any attempt on the part of Great Britain to prevent the Chinese Government from giving full effect to the Anti-Opium ediots will be realized by those who are acquainted with the despotic system of Government in China. Whether we had seen At to adopt a sympathetic policy or otherwise, the Chinese Government would of course con- tinue the campaign against opium, and when it considered the time for very drastic measures had arrived would issue orders to all Viceroys, Governors and District Magistrates that on and after a certain date all persons, of whatsoever rank or station in life, who are found continu- ing the evil habit of opiam smoking must be summarily decapitated in public as a warning

under medical advice the Government of this Colony has taken the necessary steps to wipe children of the Colony. It is my sincere hope out this blot upon the health of the school that the neighbouring and friendly Government of His Imperial Chinese Majesty will follow this most excellent example set by the Govern- ment of Hongkong, and thus initiate a success. ful measure for the prevention of blindness 80 common in all the great cities of China."

THE P. & 0. FAR BASTERN SERVICE.

A Colombo paper states that it is intended in the early autumn to place at the disposal of passengers between Japan and Shanghai the Company's s.s. "Oriental," which will maintain a fortnightly service from Yokohama, oba necting at Shanghai with the homeward mail steamers. The transit from Yokobama to Mar-

ness and enterprise of the early settlers. The substantial houses betoken the same good qualities, and the many churches and public and ability and devotion of these colonising buildings are lasting monuments of the energy Portuguese. The harbour also indicates their foresight and indeed the situation of the city the centre for a rich agricultural and manufactme- ing district and the port for all South Chins-is eloquent test mody to their judgment. All these show what a good start the Portuguese had in Macso. And that is what saddens. Having done so well why should they not have done better? They have neglected their oppor. tunities. They have allowed power to slip from their grasp. They have lived in the past and forgotten the present. Byegone splendours are only a dream

And the present is little better than a slumber. Macao reminds us of senility sleeping its life away in an arm chair. Its vigour has gone and it seems to have outlived ita usefulness.

Yes, Macao had great advantages, a natural harbour, a good situation contignons to Canton, an established trade, but what have these availed? Nothing. When Portugal fell away from its foremost place among the nations of Europe a natural consequence was its loss of

seilles by these means will occupy 37 days, and to London 4 days, the local voyage-Yoko. hama-Shanghai-being performed in 80 hours. The 8.8. Malta will be withdrawn from the China Mail Service in November, and assigned to others. Thus, although the right to import to the intermediate passenger lines to Calcutta | power in the Orient. Macao was made to Indian Opium continued despite China's appeal for help, the trade in it would be ultimately or Japan, as occasion may require.

suffer. The resources that it had were drained

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